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TOP STORY
BRIEFING: Debt crisis impact on nature tipped to grow as fears loom over US economy
Governments must ramp up efforts to address the impact of spiralling sovereign debt on biodiversity, as the looming US economy slowdown is likely to place even greater pressure on nature across the Global South, a webinar heard this week.
MARKET
UK to mandate nature offsetting for all corporates, ratings exec predicts
The UK is likely to escalate nature restoration by mandating the offsetting of nature impacts for all corporates, not just developers, potentially within a few years, the co-founder of a nature ratings company has predicted.
UN agency to support biodiversity credit markets in rural areas
UN agency the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has released its environmental strategy for 2025-31, planning to support the development of biodiversity and carbon credit markets to reward small-scale farmers.
‘Enormous potential’ for biodiversity credits in rewilding, non-profit chair says
Biodiversity credits have great potential for supporting the surge in rewilding projects, the chair of an international rewilding network has said.
TOOLS & GUIDANCE
US data firm releases biodiversity disclosure guidance
A US-based nature intelligence company has published a framework for supporting companies in biodiversity-related disclosures, in line with major reporting standards and rules.
POLICY
European Commission finalises loosening of EU’s anti-deforestation law
The European Commission has added further simplifications to the EU’s anti-deforestation regulation, reducing what international trading partners perceived as an administrative burden.
Pressure builds on UK Planning Bill to address irreplaceable habitats
The UK government is under pressure from ecologists, charities, and a politician to address the potential impacts of the UK Planning and Infrastructure Bill on critical ecosystems.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Funding round – French nature tech startup Versant has raised €500,000 in seed funding to develop a platform for renewable energy developers to better manage their impacts on nature, Tech Funding News has reported. The funding round was led by Singapore-headquartered venture capital firm Antler, with investments from France-based impact fund Climate Leaders Fast Track as well as several others. “We believe biodiversity can’t be an afterthought – it must be efficiently integrated into the early decisions of every infrastructure project,” said Versant.
Pork pollination – UK-based firm Compleat Food Group has partnered with bioacoustics company AgriSound in a bid to improve biodiversity across its operations. The pork and pastry producer will use monitoring devices to assess its impact on pollinator populations in grasslands, wildflower meadows, woodlands, and rewilded areas. The devices will provide real-time data on pollinator activity, enabling evaluation of the effectiveness of landscaping efforts. (Food and Drink Technology)
POLICY
Rig the ship – The importance of moving the entry into force of the so-called High Seas Treaty was underlined this week by speakers at the first session of a UN commission on the topic. From April 14-25 three informal working groups within the initiative will deliberate over finance, governance, and a platform for agreement-related knowledge. “The need for decisive action has never been more urgent,” said Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, and UN Legal Counsel, Elinor Hammarskjold. She urged states to “rig the ship and prepare it to sail” in the spirit that guided the adoption of the treaty.
Farm tech – The UK government has announced it is committing over £45 mln to farming innovation over the next year. The ADOPT Fund has opened the first stage with £20.6 mln in grants for technologies aimed at improving productivity, resilience, and sustainability. From May, two competitions will open via the fund, with £12.5 mln each, for solutions to issues such as using precision-bred crops to improve yield, reduce chemical inputs, and enhance disease resistance.
Just ‘protected’ – On Wednesday, the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union approved the European Council’s mandate on reviewing the protection status of the wolf, aligning EU legislation with the updated Bern Convention. The wolf’s classification has shifted to ‘protected’ from ‘strictly protected’, offering member states more flexibility in “managing” their local wolf populations. However, EU countries may still choose to designate the wolf as a strictly protected species under their national laws and implement more stringent conservation measures, the Council noted.
Route Map – The Scottish Land Commission has published a guide for landowners, developers, and investors in a bid to support them in engaging with communities in nature restoration projects. The document shows how to involve local communities from the start, making sure that natural capital projects – such as peatland restoration and woodland creation – bring benefits to those who live in those areas. “This Route Map aims to set out a process that all parties can follow to agree the community benefits to be delivered from investment in natural capital,” the document said.
Ghana’s plan – Ghana’s government announced a three-year programme for safeguarding the country’s biodiversity and securing sustainable financing for environmental protection on Wednesday. Through the initiative, launched in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP)’s BIOFIN, Ghana seeks to develop a national biodiversity financing plan and build capacity to implement its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), in a bid to meet commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Marine protection – Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Wildlife has signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK’s National Oceanography Centre to advance cooperation on marine biodiversity protection. The agreement aims to scale efforts in marine biodiversity monitoring in the seas around Saudi Arabia, enhance the management of marine protected areas, and collect data on the distribution of species and their ecosystem functioning. “We look forward to developing new projects that build on and expand the expertise of both of our institutions in ocean science and effective management,” said Alex Rogers, deputy director of strategic science programmes and partnerships at the centre. (Oceanographic)
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